Crime of Passion

by Roy Glenn

  UNDERCOVER

  “Good morning, Ms. Foster,” the receptionist said. “You're in early today.”

  At eight-thirty on Monday morning, Mondrya Foster arrived at work. She usually got in sometime before nine-thirty, but not today. Today she had things to do. After talking to Marcus about Frank Collins and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of himself and his wife Suzanne, she couldn't shake the feeling that there may be something going on. She spent all weekend thinking back to the time of the merger. And it was all starting to come back to her. The more Mondrya thought, the more the details of those days came into focus.

  She remembered that when they were selecting the team of analysts, Frank Collins was selected to be a member of the team. At the time, his selection caused quite a bit of controversy. Frank had only recently come to Hudson Financial as an Account manager from another brokerage. The question the analysts posed was why would a new Account Manager be on a team of analysts? Mondrya remembered this specifically because it was her friend Bennett who was passed over. And then there was Connie Ferguson. The analysts, analyst. She and Frank sure hit it off quick, almost from the first day. It always seemed like they knew each other.

  After she got her coffee, Mondrya settled into her office and turned on her computer. She put her phone on speaker and dialed. “I S, this is Richie.”

  “Good morning, Richie. This is Mondrya Foster.”

  “Mondrya, good morning, this is a surprise.”

  “I need a favor, Richie. Could you come to my office?”

  “I'll be right up.”

  With all the questions she had about Frank Collins, Mondrya wanted to access his personnel file. Since walking into HR and pulling the file wasn't an option, the HR system on the network was her only option. But the system had safeguards and she needed Richie to circumvent them. It wasn't too long before Richie knocked on her door.

  “Mondrya, how are you?”

  “Long weekend, Richie. Come in and close the door. How are Mary and the kids?”

  “They're all fine. And your boys, how are they doing?”

  “They eat too much.”

  “I know how that feels,” Richie laughed. “So, to what do I owe the honor of this audience, your highness? Since you moved up two floors I don't get to see nearly enough of you.”

  “You know you can come by to see me any time you want to. You do have access to this floor.”

  “You could see me up here a lot more often if you would get Sheldon fired. Then you could use your influence to get me the I S Director job,” Richie paused. “But I forgot; you're a new style VP. Nothing like your predecessor, the late Mr. Coleman Wilson, may he rest in peace. None of that inter-office back stabbing politics on your watch. But I shouldn't speak ill of the dead.”

  “No, you shouldn't even if it is true,” Mondrya said. “But everybody was tired of that stuff, Richie.”

  “That's why they created that senior exec spot for him. They had to get the crazy old bastard out before he did something else stupid. Who knew all they had to do was wait a few months for him to kill himself.”

  “Yeah, who knew?”

  “You know what was interesting?” Richie said and made himself a little more comfortable.

  “What's that, Richie?”

  “Coleman killed himself on the same day as some state official.”

  “I remember hearing about that. What was his name again?” Mondrya snapped her fingers a few times. “John Heard, I think that was his name. Well anyway, those days are over. No more office infighting. No more secret conspiracies. And I'm not committing suicide. So you come by any time, my door is always open.”

  “Yeah, well, I notice that it’s not opened now.”

  “I need a favor, Richie.”

  “What's that?”

  “I need to look at something in the HR system.”

  “I can show you how to do that. It’s easy, let me show you,” Richie hopped up.

  “Richie, I know how to access what I want to see.”

  “So what do you need, Mondrya?' Richie asked as he sat back down.

  “Doesn't the system have an automatic trigger that sends out emails when non HR personnel access the system?”

  “Sure, it sends an email to a predetermined distribution list, with details of who accessed the system, at what time and what information they looked at.”

  “Can the system be bypassed?”

  “It can, why?” Richie asked slowly.

  “How?”

  “Somebody would have to be logged in as system administrator and then it would just be a matter of turning off that option in the set up.”

  “Can you do that?”

  “Yes.”

  “And if you turn it off, does it trigger an email to anybody?”

  “Yes.”

  “And who gets that?” Mondrya asked.

  “You and Sheldon.”

  “Sheldon is on vacation and has the out of office auto response turned on. Anybody else get one?”

  “No. Why do you want to know?”

  “I told you, I need to look at something and I don't need the whole company knowing what I'm doing. So I need you to turn off that setting. Will you do it?”

  “Whose records do you want to look at? Never mind, I don't want to know,” Richie got up again. “You don't mind if I do this from here, do you? Whatever you're doing, I really don't want it coming back on me.”

  “Not at all. I understand your need to cover yourself.” Mondrya got up and let Richie have access to her computer.

  “Well, it's done,” Richie said. “Let me know when I can turn it back on.”

  “Sit down, Richie. This won't take long,” Mondrya said and logged in the HR system. She accessed Frank Collins personnel file and examined each page. Mondrya wasn't exactly sure what she was looking for, but she would know it when she saw it. She found what she was looking for on the work history page. Before coming to work at Hudson Financial, Frank Collins worked as an account manager for Dean Witter, in New York. Prior to that he was a sales representative for Atlanta Life Insurance.

  Mondrya logged out of the system and told Richie that he could reset the system. “You owe me a favor, Mondrya. It's a shame that you're a new style VP, because I really would like to be I S Director.”

  “Richie,” Mondrya took a deep breath and looked at him. “Sheldon is a blithering idiot, you and I both know that, and so do other influential people. He will eliminate himself in due time. When that happens I know that you'll be in a very strong position to assume that role.”

  “That official or un-official?”

  “What do you think, Richie?”

  “Un-official. That sounds pretty political for a non-political VP.”

  “You'll find out when you become I S Director, that perception is reality.”

  As soon as Richie left her office, Mondrya called Dean Witter's offices in New York. “Human Resources, this is Judy, how may I help you.”

  “Good morning, Judy, this is Mondrya Foster calling from Hudson Financial Corporation in Atlanta. How are you this morning?”

  “It's Monday, and the weekends are never long enough.”

  “I think we all need shorter work weeks, and more vacation time.”

  “Ain't that the truth. What can I do for you, Mondrya?”

  “I'd like to verify employment, for a Frank Collins, please.”

  “I can help you with that.”

  “Let me know when you’re ready,” Mondrya told her.

  “I'm ready.”

  “Oooh, your system is much faster than ours,” Mondrya said. “Anyway, Mr. Collins reports employment dates being from July, 1988 to February, 1989.”

  “That's correct.”

  “Can you tell me if he resigned or terminated?”

  “Company policy prohibits the release of that information.”

  “I understand. Here's my problem, Judy. Mr. Collins has applied for a sensitive position and I need to know if he was ter
minated for any type of financial impropriety.”

  “Hmm, I understand your situation, Mondrya, but I hope you can appreciate the need to protect confidential information. So, Mondrya,” Judy paused.

  “Yes, Judy.”

  “If I were to tell you that Mr. Collins was fired for gross mismanagement of the accounts assigned to him, I could be fired. Sorry I couldn't help you. You have a nice day, Mondrya.”

  “You, too, Judy. And thank you for your help,” Mondrya said and hung up the phone.

  The better part of the day was filled with a boring meeting, followed by a dull corporate lunch. At least the food was good. Lunch was followed by two more boring meetings. It was three-thirty before Mondrya got back to her office. While she sat through the endless series of meaningless meetings, Mondrya's mind was focused clearly on how she was going to proceed. She needed to access Frank Collins records in the system. This time she wasn't worried about any automatic triggers sending email, since all the email would come to her anyway. Mondrya turned on her computer and tried logging in with her old group manager password.

  ACCESS DENIED

  She tried to remember the system password she'd seen Richie type so many times.

  ACCESS DENIED

  Mondrya knew she would only have one more attempt to gain access before the system locked her out. Think, Mondrya, think. She thought about logging in as herself, since she had access to the system, but she definitely didn't need anybody knowing what she was looking for in the system. The HR system was one thing; the in-house brokerage system was another matter entirely. Last chance. Mondrya began to type slowly W O N I E M T E L and pressed enter. When she saw the hourglass she knew she had it. W O N N I E M T E L is, let me in now, spelled backwards.

  Now that she had access to the system, Mondrya searched for all documents or entries related to Frank Collins. The system returned 39,892 items. She needed to add a variable to narrow the search parameters. Mondrya thought back to the weeks before he committed suicide. Frank had meetings with Bill Hudson on an almost daily basis. Then the promotion came. She remembered how it seemed strange to everyone that Frank wasn't happy about it at all. The daily meetings became daily arguments. The time before Suzanne died. She tried to remember the exact date, but it didn't matter. New Search, get all document or entries related to Frank Collins, last 14 months. The system returned 47 items. Display list.

  Mondrya opened and read each document carefully. She got to a document named, CLIENT LIST COLLINS, FRANK, and another named, CLIENT LIST COLLINS,FRANK, Mondrya thought it was the same list. The only difference was one had a space and one didn't. Mondrya scanned CLIENT LIST COLLINS, FRANK. Frank's client list, nothing she hadn't already seen hundreds of times as his supervisor. Mondrya sat straight up in her chair when she began reading CLIENT LIST COLLINS,FRANK.

  “Jackpot.”

  When the document was accessed the system sent the following email:

  To: advisory board member advisory board@hudsonfinancail.com

  From: System Administrator sysadm@hudsonfinancail.com

  Subject: Unauthorized File Access

  This message was automatically generated and sent to the advisory board member distribution list. Please be advised somebody has accessed restricted document:

  File name: CLIENT LIST COLLINS,FRANK.

  Was Accessed by: SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR

  From Terminal Position: 136

  Position Owner: Mondrya Foster

  The document she opened contained a list of ten clients that Mondrya had never seen. Some of the names were in Spanish, while others had names like, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison. It didn't take her long to figure out the pattern was dead presidents. Mondrya quickly printed the document. Mondrya called and left a message for Marcus, confirming their luncheon engagement for the following day.

  And Marcus, I have something's that I'm sure will interest you.

  Then she got a file folder out of her drawer and took out her pad. At the top of the page she wrote, Notes To Marcus, then created an outline of all her observation and the conclusions. Then she came across a document named 11A2B3675C489. Mondrya opened it and the system automatically generated the following email:

  To: advisory board member advisory board@hudsonfinancail.com

  From: System Administrator sysadm@hudsonfinancail.com

  Subject: Unauthorized File Access

  This message was automatically generated and sent to the advisory board member distribution list. Please be advised somebody has accessed restricted document:

  File name: 11A2B3675C489

  Was Accessed by: SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR

  From Terminal Position: 136

  Position Owner: Mondrya Foster

  It opened an area of the brokerage system that she had never seen before. It prompted her to enter a password. Once again, Mondrya typed W O N N I E M T E L. ACCESS DENIED. Mondrya looked at her watch and noted that it was almost five o'clock and she would have to leave soon if she was going to meet Gloria at six at Starbucks in downtown Decatur. Mondrya inserted a CD in the drive and copied the three documents to the disk. She logged out of the system, turned off her computer, grabbed her purse, and headed for the door.

  Naturally traffic on 285 was ridiculous. Even though she was late, Mondrya wanted to get the disk she had just copied, out of her hands. She stopped at the Decatur post office and sent the disk, along with the client lists and the notes she made for Marcus to her attention at Gloria's office, via priority mail. This was her insurance policy and she would need it if she was to get out from under Bill Hudson's thumb.

  When Mondrya arrived at Starbucks at six-twenty-five, Gloria Giannelli was already waiting. Gloria stood up when she saw her and waved Mondrya over to the table.

  “I was starting to think you weren't coming, Mondrya.”

  “I'm sorry. Traffic, you know how it is. I would have called you, but I left your cell number at the office.”

  “Well, you’re here now. That suit looks very nice on you. Where did you get it?”

  “Niemen’s; caught it on sale.” Mondrya went to the counter to order. “Caramel Macchiato, please.” Once she got her coffee Mondrya returned to the table.

  “So what did you want to see me about?”

  “Because you're my friend. Can't two friends get together for a cup of coffee after work?”

  “I'm sorry, Mondrya. Of course we can, but you made it sound like it was business.”

  “Well it's that, too.”

  “So you do need a lawyer?”

  “Not yet, I just need a little friendly advice. I'm thinking of filing a sexual harassment suit and I want to know something first.”

  “I kinda assumed that, since sexual harassment is my specialty. Anyway, I can give you a broad legal definition of what constitutes sexual harassment. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment. When submission to, or rejection of this conduct, explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.”

  “I think I qualify,” Mondrya said casually sipping her coffee.

  “Who is it?”

  “I'd rather not say. Not yet anyway. What should I do now?”

  “That depends, have you directly informed the harasser that the conduct is unwelcome and must stop.”

  “Many times.”

  “The next step is to use any employer complaint mechanism or grievance system available to you. Have you done that?”

  “No, I will if I have to.”

  “That's important, Mondrya. When investigating allegations of sexual harassment, EEOC looks at the whole record. So it is very important that you have as much documentation of the harassment as possible.”

  “What information are they looking for?”

  “The circumstances of the allegation, such as the nature of the
sexual advances, and the context in which the alleged incidents occurred. That's what we'll need to go to court with.”

  “I understand; I have kept a record of all the occurrences. Dates, times, what was said. But I don't expect it to go that far,” Mondrya smiled and Gloria wondered why. “What? Why are you looking at me like that? I've just gotten a little insurance.”

  “Insurance?” Gloria questioned.

  “Just a little bit of information to guarantee that things go my way.”

  “What are you looking to get out of this?”

  “Peace of mind.”

  “Peace of mind and money, you mean.”

  “Anyway,” Mondrya smiled. “Have you ever met Marcus Douglas?”

  “Mr. Good looking attorney for the defense? I met him once years ago at a conference.”

  “I'm meeting him tomorrow for lunch.”

  “I didn't know you knew him.”

  “He came to the office last week.”

  “What for?”

  “His firm is conducting an independent investigation into Desireé Ferguson's death. I was looking into something for him, and that's how I got my insurance.”

  “What's that?” Gloria asked as three masked men suddenly rushed into the Starbucks carrying guns.

  “Nobody move!” one shouted from the door way. “Everybody be quite and cool, and everybody goes home alive tonight.”

  “All we want is the money,” the second said, shoving his gun toward the cashiers face.

  The third robber moved to cover the customers. He looked around the room, pointing his weapon. “What the fuck you looking at, bitch?” he shouted walking over to Gloria and Mondrya's table.